Analysis: Little meat in Kasich speech

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - It's been almost 30 years since that TV commercial in which an incredulous Clara Peller demanded to know, "Where's the beef?"

Darrel Rowland, The Columbus Dispatch

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — It’s been almost 30 years since that TV commercial in which an incredulous Clara Peller demanded to know, “Where’s the beef?”

Gov. John Kasich opened himself up to the same criticism in a State of the State speech yesterday that was long on words but incredibly short on specific proposals.

“It was a fairly modest legislative agenda,” said William Binning, a Youngstown State University political-science professor and former state Republican Party official.

But rather than fault Kasich for a feel-good, little-substance speech, Binning praised Kasich for channeling legendary former Gov. James A. Rhodes.

“I think that what he wants the headline to be is that he is single-minded in pursuit of jobs,” Binning said. “Rhodes sang that song a long, long time.”

But Kasich’s lack of specifics empowered the complaints of Democrats, who are a minority everywhere in state government and thus all but ignored.

“I think he was long on wind and short on specifics,” said Rep. Robert F. Hagan, D-Youngstown, who used $800 in campaign money to bus 50 protesters from his district to Steubenville.

“He delivered it well. But there were things that he took credit for that he wasn’t responsible for, and that’s to be expected.”

Binning agreed.

Kasich will tout the advancement of Ohio auto plants, but he can’t be expected to offer any credit to former Gov. Ted Strickland or President Barack Obama, who pushed the GM and Chrysler bailouts, the professor said.

Even Republicans had trouble citing specific calls to action from their governor.

Senate President Tom Niehaus said he actually likes it that way, “because it gives us the opportunity to represent our constituents in the process.”

“There are parts of this process that involve more than just the governor,” the New Richmond Republican said. “I think he laid out a vision for the things he wanted to address, but members of the Senate and House will have a lot to say about what things get done over the next 11 months."

Numerous times, the governor threw out an objective but added precious little direction on how to reach the goal.

Not enough students are graduating in Ohio’s urban schools. Solution? Do it better, maybe more like Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson is proposing, the governor said. And hand out more vouchers for kids to attend private schools.

Ohio should become energy independent, including using the state’s large coal reserves. How? “ Clean it and burn it” was the totality of Kasich’s charge.

Public colleges and universities are not graduating enough students in four years. What to do? Ask Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee to fix it.

“There’s no secret plan, it’s just hard work,” said Gee, who also was given the task of coordinating the capital budget requests from higher education. He acknowledged reluctance among university officials to work together at first, because they’re used to competing “like big animals at the trough.”

But he said the capital budget, a “remarkably persuasive” proposal, will be presented to Kasich in a week.

“My belief is that if we do this well, we’ll make the case for greater investment (translation: more money for higher education) and greater flexibility,” Gee said.

Kasich’s supporters say this is his strength: formulating an overarching vision, and letting others fill in the details. Critics, however, say it’s a copout.

“They say that where there’s no vision, the people perish,” said Senate Minority Leader Eric Kearney, D-Cincinnati, quoting the Bible back at a governor who referenced God numerous times in the 83-minute speech. “I would say Gov. Kasich’s speech today lacked vision. He said if there’s a problem, he will present a solution.”

Kearney then ticked off numerous problems that didn’t get a solution from Kasich.

Binning was more charitable, opining that Kasich is still feeling the effects of the crushing defeat of his attempt to slash public-employee bargaining rights last fall.

“I think this is an attempt to create a new John Kasich that will be less strident, partisan and in your face.”

Dispatch reporter Jim Siegel contributed to this story.

drowland@dispatch.com

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